The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-06-23

In ReEnsasfea.
In In report Of the proceedings Of the State
Pres Association the 7imes- Unioa prints the
portion which il selects - best OF IN address
read by Mr.. r. T. Harris, Of the OcalA Banner.
Proposing to comment, We premise that IT ID not
done in the spirit Of idle criticism. or for the
mere expression Of difference Of opinion, for
anything said or written may be criticized. and
. difference Of opinion as TO anything may be
expressed. We comment because We think Il .
duty to correct statements that may give an erro-
neeus impression abroad Of affairs Of property
and finance in Florida, because the democratic
party and democratic regime are slurred, and
because specious conclusions are based on false
premises-conclusions calculated, if not intend
ed, to incite among the ignorant or thoughtless
. spirit OF antagonism to the democratic party
and the constituted authorities Having
space for such portions of the address rs remind
OF mild specimens of the sand-iot oratory of
Dennis Kearney, We extract only that which is
particularly within the province OF Florida
Journalists censure-though the Times Union
praises the whole thing highly and without dis
elimination, and says it is to be printed in the
proceedings of the Association
What is the meaning of the enormous lists oil
lands annually sold for taxes in our own State,
new as ii is? When the Republicans were in
power we attributed it TO the looseness of their
administration. There are many in this State
who sincerely believe that Harrison Reed, who
left the Executive office too poor TO buy post
age stamp, stole millions II was proclaimed
that when the Democratic party acceded TO
power that these things would be changed, and
that the administration being honestly conducted,
taxation would cease longer to be felt as bur-
den. They did accede to power and by the sale
Of the Disston lands q million OF dollars was put
in the State Treasury in q single lump, but has
taxation ceased to be a burden! In addition 70
this thousands of immigrants have come IN to help
share this burden but do we feel the burden less
They have builded railroads and hotels and or
ange groves, but have the taxes ceased to be a
burden! Have they decreased. Why, yes, re-
plies eur neighbor the taxes have been decreased
from sixteen mills to four mills. But as an offset
te this can not it be said that the valuation OF
property has been raised from four dollars 10 six
teen dollars!
As to the enormous lists of lands annually
sold for taxes" we will state that they are con-
stantly growing smaller, except, perhaps, in some
counties where speculation and imitation have
put unreal values upon property and induced its
transfer to persons who were duped and don't
care TO pay the taxes il, or being non resident
do not know of the assessment. A notable
instance of this is the notorious Belmore City
property in Clay county. the tax advertisement of
which occupies columns. As to the reference to
Harrison Reed, his administration-well what
were his apolsgists political affiliations in carpet
bag days!
May we not conclude that the writer of the
address was willing to state things unfairly 10
strengthen his argument when he says" by the
sale of the Disston lands a million dollars was
put in the State treasury in a single lump, but
has taxation ceased to be burden?" Surely a
public man and journalist should know what
every person Of ordinary information as TO public
affairs does know, that the money was raised by
the Disson sale in orler to pay particular
debt, which was 80 paid, and did not 60 into the
treasury to meet ordinary expenses that are pro-
vided for by taxation. Of a piece with the de-
ceptiveness of the Disston sale instance is the
Elusive point as to the valuation of property
"cannot II be said that the valuation of property
has been raised from four dollars TO sixteen dol
lars!" This trickery Of words is obviously
meant TO convey an impression which the writer
does not risk by direct assertion. The truth is
that valuations" have not been 30 raised under
democratic administration, but edlues have been
increased during the era OF wonderful progress
which the State has made since its redemption
from republican sway. Material progress consists
in added values only. and would he argue that
there has been notmaterial progress in Florida
in the last ten years-that no property has been
property comparatively valueless before? We
do not believe he would willingly injure his
State, but is not this the tendency of misrepre.
sen nations which are published and endorsed by
paper having too large circulation outside,
or inside, the State! Who would wish to settle
in, or invest in, State in which he says owners
are punished with tax so excessive as 10
amount almost TO conhscation of property p
Is he 30 inimical to the democratic party,
though considered of it, that he would iniure it
at the expense of the Stale, or is he simply un-
able TO resist the temptation to seek the applause
of the thoughtless, ignorant or prejudieed by the
talk of the demagogue and radical agitator?